Tony DiBenedetto, chief executive officer of Appspace and founder of the nonprofit Think Big for Kids, will receive the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, in April.
Born to young parents, DiBenedetto lived with his grandparents during his early years. They struggled, financially, to care for him. After his grandmother’s passing, he became independent, relying on friends in the community. Throughout middle school and high school, DiBenedetto stayed in more than 10 homes and worked numerous jobs.
Encouraged by his community, he focused on his academics and became one of his high school’s most promising graduates. After graduation, he attended Florida State University and earned a business degree. He then worked at Arthur Andersen, before founding the IT firm Tribridge, in 1998. After selling the company in 2017, to DXC Technology, DiBenedetto joined Appspace.
Understanding the importance of support early in life, DiBenedetto created a nonprofit to help children and adolescents discover their passions and find their place in the workforce. Through a three-pillar program, Think Big for Kids offers career exploration activities, mentorship and job readiness and placement assistance.
The organization begins working with students in middle school and continues to support them until they secure full-time positions. Initially focused on students in Tampa, Think Big for Kids now serves young people nationwide in markets such as Atlanta, Dallas, greater Washington, D.C. and New Jersey.